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My Writing Process for The Good Teen

By CreativityNo Comments
the-good-teen-plot-line

The Good Teen Plot Line

 I recently self-published The Good Teen, a modern-day telling of The Good Samaritan parable, with a hint of magic. I want to tell you a bit about my writing process for this short story.

The idea came from my childhood. Being brought up as a Christian we were told the The Good Samaritan parable. It’s a story that has stayed with me and one that I wanted to retell with my own twist. So I wrote/drew out the plot on flipchart (Left: My flipchart for The Good Teen, click on image for full size).

I like to develop my ideas, plots, sub-plots, settings, characters, pacing and description on flipchart as it’s faster than typing and allows me more creative freedom. The creative freedom to draw pictures, arrows and anything else I want to.

I originally decided to publish The Good Teen as a christmas story for my readers. Hoping to start an annual tradition. But then I saw a call for submission on the BBC Writers Room website for the BBC Radio4 Opening Lines programme and decided to write, edit and submit The Good Teen.

I had already written a To Do List for The Good Teen (below) and changed the timescales to meet the submission deadline.

the-good-teen-to-do-list

The Good Teen To Do List

The editing process, as always, was maddening. I had to cut to the word count limit, which meant some scenes were either cut, not written or combined.

Unfortunately, The Good Teen was not long listed by the BBC. So I decided to self-publish it online. You can download The Good Teen on it’s page. It’s a free download, with a Twitter Tweet or Facebook Like in exchange for the download link.

Write soon,

Antony



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Sunday 8 June 2014

Book Review: Above by Isla Morley

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
Above-Isla-Morely-Book-Cover Wow! Above by Isla Morley is amazing and phenomenal. I’ve never described a book as phenomenal before, but it really is the best word to describe this novel. You’ll be missing out on something incredible if you don’t read this story. Let me tell what it’s about:

Blythe is 16 years old when she is offered a lift home by librarian Dobbs. She accepts and he abducts her. Dobbs is convinced that the world is going to end and takes her to an underground missile silo. Below ground she shall live for years, have a child and eventually return Above ground. But will the world be as it was or how she imagines it to be? Above is Blythe’s story. If you think you’ve got an idea what’s going to happen – you really don’t.

Above is written from Blythe’s perspective and in present tense, which is excellent as it enables the reader to emotionally connect with her from the first page.

Blythe is a loveable character as is her son, Adam, who is born about midway through the book. Adam is wonderfully innocent, curious and stubborn. Traits that become clear when they finally escape the silo. All of the characters were well thought out and it was great to read their development throughout the story.

Above is perfectly paced and has a well plotted storyline. It was captivating and there were times I couldn’t put it down. It felt like an emotional roller coaster; every time something good would happen it was followed by something bad. I felt for Blythe who above ground discovers she has lost so much, but can’t give up or breakdown because of Adam.

The description is superb throughout with a Morley showing the story rather than telling it. There’s some particularly beautiful description, particularly when Blythe & Adam are above ground.

Above has been unfairly compared with Room by Emma Donoghue. Yes the idea starts similarly, but the telling and direction of Above are completely different. Above is darker, more beautiful and a somewhat sentimental read.

Above causes the reader to question and examine their own moral compass. It made me reconsider my perspectives on life and the world around me. Above is let down by a weak ending, one that left Marcus’ character at a loose end. However the reader can and does forgive Morley for this.

Above is an absolute must read and is available to buy on Amazon. Morley is such a fantastic storyteller that I will be buying Come Sunday, her first book and be keeping a close eye out for her next one.

Review soon,

Antony

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Wednesday 21 May 2014

Book Review: The Wolf in His Arms (Runes Trilogy Book 2) by Adrian Lilly

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
wolf-in-his-arms-cover-adrian-lilly The Wolf in His Arms is the second book in the Runes Trilogy. The first book is The Wolf at His Door, which I reviewed here.

Alec & Jared the gay, werewolf lovers are back. With Lucy, Alec’s sister, they set out to reveal the truth about what happened to them by decoding documents they found in a underground lab and to find their pack. But they are not the only ones looking for their pack. The Wolfs are hunting members their pack and offering them a choice: join them or they’ll kill them and their family.

Along the way, Alec & Jared are at it like rabbits while Lucy is coming to terms with her new inner wolf. They track-down other members of their pack including:

Maxwell another gay werewolf and his best friend Haley, and Nadia and her mother Helena.

Alec, Jared & Lucy discover the Wolfs have much bigger ambitions, than just recruiting their pack. The Wolfs are bent on world domination and already have a plan set into action. Alec, Jared & Lucy decide they must stop them. They learn about the elusive Tutelars, protectors of humans. Will the Tutelars recognise that Alec, Lucy and Co are trying to help or just seem them as another pack of werewolfs?

The story builds to a fantastic ending as the Wolfs set their plan into full motion, sending human society into panic and disarray. Can Alex, Jared and Co stop them or is it too late? This is where the book ends and it leaves the reader wanting more.

The Wolf in His Arms is written in third person with a good show and tell balance. It keeps the reader hooked throughout with it’s fast-paced, ever-twisting storyline. The Wolf in His Arms is a brilliant, superb and reasonably told story.

At times, a lack of editing did let The Wolf in His Arms down. It was repetitive on occasion, overly used description of weather – which wasn’t always consistent and used dialogue tags that distracted from the dialogue.

I recommend reading The Wolf at His Door before The Wolf in His Arms. The Wolf in His Arms gives an adequate backstory, but doesn’t give the reader the same emotional connection as The Wolf at His Door does. I can’t wait to read the final book in the trilogy.

The Wolf in His Arms is available in ebook format only and its short chapters mean that it is perfect to read on bus, train or tube to work. The Wolf in His Arms is available to buy on Amazon.

Review soon,

Antony



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Monday 17 March 2014

Book Review: In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa

By Amazon, Books & Authors, ReviewsNo Comments
In-His-Secret-Life-Mel-Bossa-Cover In His Secret Life is Mel Bossa‘s latest book. Allan has taken care of his sister Elise and her daughter Fay ever since Elise was dumped by Fay’s father. But when Elise meets Dayton, Allan knows things are going to change. It’s not long until Elise & Dayton get engaged and Allan gets to meet Dayton’s family.

Allan meets Davinder, one of Dayton’s brothers who is married with two kids. Something about Davinder captivates Allan and he’s about to break his one and only rule: never fall for a straight guy.

In His Secret Life is a love story about a seemingly impossible relationship, which is told over decades. It gives the reader a moral dilemma. On the one hand Davinder is a married man, but on the other it’s clear that he’s unhappily married and that he loves Allan.

The story is written in three parts. In the first part the characters are introduced and Allan & Davinder meet. The second part is about Allan & Davinder’s affair and the duality of their double lives. The third and final part is about Allan & Davinder’s journey on separate paths back to one another.

There’s something magical about Mel Bossa‘s writing that hypnotises the reader from the first word. All of the characters are likeable and the story is written from Allan’s perspective. The reader empathises with Allan’s loneliness, as well as the highs and lows of love – that he likens to drug addiction. The use of perspective and these emotions – that everybody has experienced at sometime in their life, creates a connection between Allan and the reader.

Allan & Davinder’s sexual relationship develops a bit too quickly in the beginning and their was a scene that gave the impression that Allan had drunkenly drove home. But apart from these minor details the plot is perfectly paced, well thought out and exceptionally well written.

Mel Bossa‘s use letters and emails to show other characters perspectives was a really clever idea. The description ignites the readers imagination, giving a flawless image of the characters, settings and events. The end this book made me cry (with happiness) and was heartwarming.

In His Secret Life is Mel Bossa‘s best book to date and is one of those incredibly rare books that comes into your life and leaves you feeling changed somehow.

If you want a book about impossible love made possible, that will make you question yourself, leave you feeling satisfied and joyous then I recommend In His Secret Life by Mel Bossa, which is available to buy on Amazon.

Write soon,

Antony

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Sunday 26 May 2013
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